Veteran sports writer Jim Utter covers NASCAR for The Charlotte Observer and its racing site, ThatsRacin.com. In this space, Jim writes about all things NASCAR and other forms of racing which may also be relevant ... or not.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Gordon wins Michigan pole in track-record time

BROOKLYN, Mich.
– Jeff Gordon swept to the pole Friday for Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 and he
did so in record-breaking style.

Gordon’s lap of 206.558 mph at Michigan International
Speedway broke a track record set in June by Kevin Harvick, and he wasn’t
alone.

It is Gordon’s second consecutive pole. He was first last
week at Watkins Glen, which came two weeks after winning the race at Indianapolis.

“The reason we’re so fast has nothing to do with the race
track,” said Logano of the speeds at Michigan.
“It’s the new rules packages for the cars and what we’re doing to improve it
with our stuff.” -- David Scott